Dating to 1685, Annandale was part of a 24,000 acre tobacco plantation in northern Virginia. Historic Green Spring Park is a highlight of the area.
Annandale's history can be traced to 1685, when Col. William H. Fitzhugh purchased over 24,000 acres of land. Called "Ravensworth," it was transformed into one of the largest tobacco plantations in Northern Virginia. Behind George Washington is an oak tree, which was a major marker for the boundaries of the original plantation. As a surveyor, he surveyed much land in Alexandria and in Fairfax County. In 1830 Ravensworth was renamed Annandale, after the Scottish village located at the mouth of the Annan River. Civil War artifacts and earthworks can be found in the area, including a cannon in the town center.
The main house at Green Spring currently has a porch added onto the right side that does not appear in this design. The original part of the house built by John Moss dates back to 1784. Appearing in the picture is a goose perched atop one of the fireplaces, a not uncommon sight. I saw two up there recently.
Original sketches only - no clipart or photos